Red Lion area firefighter dies after being struck by cars

A North Hopewell-Winterstown firefighter died after he was struck by two vehicles as he was jogging on Christmas Eve.

Cory Haley, 24, of Red Lion was with the fire department three years and was engaged to be married in February, said Shanan Poe, its chief.

"It's tough for the fire service. It's pretty tough for everybody," he said. "It's during the holidays."

Haley was also slated to join the U.S. Air Force in March and often went for runs to keep in shape, the chief said.

That's what he was doing Tuesday evening when he was struck by a car and thrown into the path of a pickup truck, police said.

What happened: Haley was jogging on Winterstown Road near South Pine Street in Red Lion when he was struck by a 1993 Buick driven by Briar Sullivan of Red Lion about 5:20 p.m., according to a news release from York Area Regional Police.

Haley was thrown into the path of an oncoming 2006 Ford pickup truck driven by 65-year-old John Warner of Winterstown and was run over, police said.

"He was taken to York Hospital, where he died in the operating room," said Claude Stabley, York County's chief deputy coroner.

Haley was pronounced dead at 8:54 p.m., Stabley said, adding he died of multiple blunt force trauma. There will not be an autopsy.

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At the time he was struck by the car, Haley was wearing a reflective band across his body and was also wearing headphones, police said.

No other injures were reported, police said.

Life ahead of him: When Haley was struck, he was jogging home after working out at a Red Lion gym, Poe said.

It wasn't uncommon for the 24-year-old man to be out jogging, even on Christmas Eve, and he often ran five to 10 miles at a time. He was slated to join the Air Force in a few months and he eyes were set on joining its elite pararescue unit, the chief said.

"Every time I'd see him, he was running along the road," Poe said. "He was all ready to go (into the Air Force.) He just was working to keep in shape."

Haley strove to be the best in whatever he did and could often have been found at the fire station helping out with odds and ends.

Poe said Haley would text him daily asking if any work needed to be done at the fire station.

"He just wanted to help the community, to help people anyway he could," Poe said. "He was just one of those people that you'd want 25 to 50 volunteers to be like."

Police continue to investigate the incident, and anyone with information is asked to call Officer James Hess Jr. of York Area Regional Police at (717) 741-1259.